Wall construction and building block



A.,F. LEVITT WALL CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING BLOCK Filed Nov. 5, 1922 W Arrfiqrflewtt Patented Oct. 21, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

ARTHUR r. LEVITT, or LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

WALL CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING BLOCK.

Application filed November 3, 1922. Serial No. 598,763.

and useful Improvements in Fall Construction and Building Blocks, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to building construction, and has for its object to provide a simple, practicable and substantial form of building block for building hollow walls, and another object is to provide a building block that is practically universal in its arrangement in inside and outside wall components. Another object is to provide a block for building hollow walls and which block is of such construction that it can be readily broken in two to form a bat for filling in or making corners and for other necessities.

Other objects and advantages will be made manifest in the following specification of an embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective of the improved block.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the corner of a fragment of a wall of one system of arrangement of the blocks.

Fig. 3 is a perspective showing the reverse arrangement of courses of blocks.

Fig. is a perspective of a system of arrangement of the blocks to form a hollow wall providing for vertical and horizontal ventilation drafts.

The present improved block consists of an element which in plan is substantially of U-shape and comprises an intermediate body 2 of suitable thickness and length, on one face of which are formed outstanding end lugs 3, the end faces of which are flush with the ends of the body 2. The length of projection of the faces 4 of the end lugs 3 is about equal in each of the projections to each other so that they form abutment faces 5 in a common plane.

The blocks may be of any suitable length and depth and have a plain or other face 6 which may be disposed or presented inwardly or outwardly in building a wall W, one form of which is shown in Fig. 2. In this form of wall a suitable number of the blocks 2 are arranged with their faces 6 outwardly in a common plane. The outside forming blocks thus present their lugs 3 inwardly and there is laid concurrently in each course an inside row of blocks 2 abutted at contiguous ends, these blocks having their lugs 3 presented and abutted against the recessed face of each block 2 of the outside series.

In constructing a wall having vertical air passageways, as shown in Fig. 3, one course of blocks is first laid as shown in the top of the fragment of the wall and then a supercourse is'built thereon but with the blocks in joint breaking relation so that the bodies of the blocks in one course will rest medially over the joint J, Fig. 3, of the lower course and so on throughout the wall. It will be seen that the lugs 3-3 of the several superposed courses will be arranged in vertical columns with the lugs of the outside blocks extending inwardly and the lugs of the inside blocks extending outwardly and the lugs of successive courses bein reversed.

A feature is to provide for the substantial tying or reinforcing of the blocks in the wall as built in Fig. 3, and for such purpose the lugs 3 are provided with perforations 8 extending from topto bottom thereof, and when the lugs are arranged in inwardly proj ecting position and abutted against the contiguous bodies of the blocks, the apertures 8 will be vertically alined and reinforcing rods may be threaded down or up through the registered apertures and will thus thoroughly tie the blocks of the wall in a secure manner; the inwardly projecting lugs of blocks in one course being tied to the outwardly projecting lugs of the next high course, since the lugs in the courses are in reversed position.

Reinforcing rods have not been shown as the various forms and uses are well known.

In Fig. 4:, there is shown a form of wall structure providing for vertical and horizontal ventilating drafts and wherein the inside wall forming blocks and the outside wall formin'g blocks have their bodies out of aced relations with the contiguous lugs 3. The blocks are laid in alternately reversed courses, as above described with respect to the wall of Fig. 3, but the combination differs therefrom in that the end faces 5 of the lugs are spaced somewhat away from the inner faces of the bodies of the blocks 2, and while the lugs 3 are superimposed upon each other in the courses they yet provide small channels or spaces 10 providing for horizontal movement of air drafts.

From the above it will be seen that I have provided an extremely simple and practical, inexpensive and substantial form of building block which is substantially universally usable throughout the various portions of a wall straight or angular.

The blocks may be provided on one side with convergently shaped keys or ribs 10, and the opposite side of the block is provided with keyways or recesses 11 so that when the blocks are superimposed the keys of one of the blocks will register with the recesses or keyways of the contiguous blocks of the upper or lower courses. Obviously, the keys may extend either longitudinally or transversely, the latter arrangement being shown in-Fig. 1.: Transverse apertures 12 are provided in the lugs 3 and these are adapted to receive fastening ro'ds, or wires, or pins, not shown. 7

It will be seen that the block of the present form enables the construction of a wall providing both vertical and horizontal spaces in which there may be conveniently arranged conduits and other building features, as may be desired.

While the invention is herein shown as employed in the construction of a wall, it is to be understood that the block may be used for various other purposes and in various other constructions, as for instance it may be incorporated in a floor.

Further embodiments, modifications and changes may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention as here claimed.

What is claimed is: A building block, consisting of a substantially straight body portion, the ends of which are provided on one side with projecting spacing lugs arranged at the extreme ends of the body of the block, said lugs having apertures adapted to receive PQlHfO'I'C'.

ing rods extendinglongitudinally of the wall, and having other apertures adapted to receive vertical reinforcing rods, a plurality of keys formed on one of the surfaces, adapted to engage complementary recesses in a similar block in a wall course, and recesses corresponding to said keys disposed opposite said keys on an opposite face of said block.

In testimony whereof I have signedmy name to this specification. I

ARTHUR F. LEVITT. 

